Rep. Sean Maloney thanks a Super PAC for helping him to win

Freshman Democratic Rep. Sean Maloney of Cold Spring is among a handful of House Democrats appearing in a new video that promotes the work of House Majority PAC in helping their party gain seats last November.
“Look, I wanted to play my part in turning the page on the tea party,’’ Maloney says in the video. “The only problem was, was that the interests I was running against were some of the best funded, best organized interests in the country. House Majority PAC really knows how to get the biggest bang for the buck. They found the undecided voters in my district and they communicated effectively on cable, on TV and in the mail. I simply couldn’t have done it without them.’’
Maloney defeated freshman Republican Rep. Nan Hayworth of Bedford in the Hudson Valley’s redrawn 18th Congressional District covering parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties as well as Putnam and Orange counties.
Outside groups, including Super PACs that can accept unlimited donations, poured money into the race because it was labeled a tossup that could play a pivotal role in majority control of the House.
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Nat Sillin sent out a blast email to members of the media Tuesday pointing to the new video as evidence “Sean Patrick Maloney has already gone Washington, starring in an ad to thank Nancy Pelosi’s Super PAC for using special interest money to get him into office.’’
House Republicans, of course, also benefitted from Super PAC spending by groups such as American Crossroads.
But candidates who publicly thank a Super PAC for helping them to win an election isn’t common.
House Majority PAC reported spending $33. 4 million during the 2011-2012 campaign, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission, including several competitive races in New York.
Major donations included many labor unions including the American Federation of Teachers COPE, which gave $200,000.
Individual donors included George Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management, who gave $250,000 and James Simons, president of Euclidean Capital in Manhattan, who gave $1.5 million.
Maloney’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Formas, declined to comment on the video.
House Majority PAC spokesman Andy Stone said the video follows the law and does not constitute violate the prohibition against coordinating with a candidate’s campaign.
“The video is intended to show interested parties what House Majority PAC was able to accomplish,’’ Stone said, noting that there is a disclaimer in the video below each member of Congress that says they are not soliciting donations.
Of course, that won’t stop House Majority PAC from using those testimonials during the 2013-2014 when it comes time to ask for donations.